tilt-a-whirl

One of the many mini rides at last week's annual Temescal Street Fair.

Monday Mural: rise above

Rise Above is a newish used book shop and record store.  Additionally, they also provide free food to local residents in need.  The floating building in the recently completed mural is an accurate representation of the store's location and seems to have been done by a multi-person crew.  Apparently they are planning a move a couple of blocks down the street.  Already?

Welcome to Monday Mural:  if you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme's for you.  Just follow the Linky steps below.  You decide what constitutes a mural.  Once you start looking, you find them everywhere.  Be sure to link back to this blog and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward your mural finds posted this week.  Google+ users, please configure your post so we all can leave a comment.  Thanks.

“Be kind; everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”  Plato

'tis the season

You know it's the holidays when Ken dolls and GI Joes climb onto the Christmas tree.

H is for henna

The henna decoration booth is always a popular stop, especially for teens and young women.  It seems like a magical process that connects the participants to a deep tradition many centuries old.  Seen at the Temescal Street Fair.  Linked to ABC Wednesday.

D is for dancing in the street

This chap was so inspired by the MJ's Brass Band he tried to get a second line going.  There were no takers, but he was fun to watch.

The same was true for this kid.  You could tell that he just couldn't help himself; the music had to be expressed through movement.  He was a joy to watch.  Seen at July's Temescal Street Fair.  Linked to ABC Wednesday.

donuts to go

Doughnut Dolly is a shop in Temescal Alley specializing in freshly made donuts filled to order from a variety of offerings that change daily.  I chose their special "Naughty Cream," (a crème fraîche vanilla bean cream).  The line is usually out the door which is a little surprising given the donuts are $3 a pop.  Then again, they really do taste good.  Linked to City Daily Photo's monthly Theme Day.  Click here for more take-out offerings from around the world.

street chat

This cutie pie looks like she was having a serious conversation with her momma.  I think she wasn't too sure about the Balloon Man on stilts who was looming over her.  Seen at the Temescal Street Fair.

C is for chess

At the recent Temescal street fair, there was a sidewalk chess table.  All comers welcome.  Intense concentration required.  Linked to ABC Wednesday.

invitation to enter

Clever way to use a completely toasted wooden chair.  Shop entry in Temescal Alley.

colors of the rainbow

The woman who painted this house has a bold sense of color.  It probably has too many colors for my taste, but then I'm one of those people who is intimidated by color.  Her car's pant job adds to the boldness of the overall appearance.  Her neighbor told me that lots of people walking by take pictures of the house.

liquid refreshment

All kinds of libations were available at the Temescal Street Fair.  This pitcher takes the prize for the prettiest drink I saw.  Doesn't it seem the epitome of summer?

dancing in the streets

These siblings were enjoying the music of Lagos Roots and decided to cut a rug.  Seen at the Temescal Street Fair.

music on every corner

One of the many cool things about the Temescal Street Fair is that there is music everywhere.  This photo shows part of the Lagos Roots band.  They really got the crowd moving.

smoke gets in your eyes

This looks like an uncomfortable job on a warm day, never mind all that smoke he's breathing in.  But the hoards must be fed and he kept at it for hours.  From the Temescal Street Fair this past weekend.

you want it, we got it

This food booth always cracks me up.  They pretty much offer every fair food you can think of and a couple of extras.  Knishes?  Seen at this past weekend's Temescal Street Fair.

Theme Day: celebrating summer

The long summer days sprout street fairs galore.   Visit the Theme Day contributions at City Daily Photo.

W is for weaver

Spotted at last year's Temescal Street Fair.  I'm always impressed with folks who dedicate themselves to preserving and promoting traditional crafts.  Spinning and then weaving are not easy.  This year's fair is coming up soon in July.  Linked to ABC Wednesday.

Monday Mural: a brief history of Oakand

There are scads of mural panels on what would otherwise be a monolithic wall for a large power station in the Temescal neighborhood.  This panel shows certain highlights in Oakland's history beginning with the Ohlone Indians who inhabited settlements around the SF Bay before the coming of Europeans.  The train represents Oakland as the terminus of the transcontinental railroad.  The Palazzo Vecchio tower is our local newspaper's headquarters built in 1923.  I'm not so sure about the guy with the horse unless it's a nod to our agricultural past.

Welcome to Monday Mural:  if you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme's for you.  Just follow the Linky steps below.  You get to decide what constitutes a mural.  Once you start looking, you find them everywhere.  Be sure to link back to this blog and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.

p.s.  Goggle+ contributors, please configure your comments page so those of us not part of Google+ can leave comments when you post.  Thanks.

¡ay, chihuahua!

Who wouldn't love this little guy sitting on their chair or sofa?  Shot through a store window in Temescal Alley.

Monday Mural: we're in this boat together

Found at 48th Street and Telegraph Avenue.  Painted by Chris Granillo who I believe also painted this mural.   It's the familiar bees that caught my eye.   He seems to prefer working with a limited color palette.

If you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme's for you.  Just follow the Linky steps below.  You get to decide what constitutes a mural.  Be sure to link back to this blog and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.